Singulair rocks. It has virtually eliminated my asthma and my allergies are better too, although that change may be in part due to changing country/climate. I combine it with Clarytin (generic version -cheap as chips at Sam's club) and have none of the aforementioned problems with that. Clarytin is awesome for dealing with the itchiness of eczema. Alcohol is my main "alternative" too. In fact, I'm applying that cure right now for my nasty headcold :D

Nasal sprays are the work of the devil.

I knew I didn't like you. Blasphemer.

I'm not for the illegal drugs, not because I think it's wrong or anything, I'm just not interested. I've recently realized that drinking can be really fun, and I've been hunting down new drinks to try there. My tolerance to caffeine is insane. I'm all of 150lbs soaking wet, and I wash two NoDoz down with a Monster Energy in less than ten minutes, then go take a nap. I've recently realized how much soda I was drinking, so I've cut WAY back to pretty much only having a soda once or twice a week, or in mixed drinks.

As for painkillers and the such, I've never had anything really strong, but I know that my body burns through novacaine in a third the time it should take, and regular strength Tylenol/Aspirin does nothing for me. Every now and then I'll get headaches bordering on migraines from staring at the computer all day, and for that I take four advil with a strong cup of tea (caffiene helps headaches in a lot of cases), then drink a couple big glasses of water.

My doctor switched me from Altace to Diovan a few weeks ago to further lower my BP. I hated it...the Diovan made me ravenous. One night, only two sandwiches from Jack in the Box and a foot-long sub filled me up. I gained 5 pounds in 2 weeks. She then switched me to Norvasc, and things are much better now.

My issue with novacain is that is either doesn't work at all (stitches after childbirth - the worst part of the whole ordeal by far), or, in dental applications, it doesn't work for the procedure but I may get a little numb later in the day.:sniff:

I also hate Claritin. Keeps me awake, in a state of cat-like readiness, for at least 24 hours.

I got jumped in highschool once, got my head slammed into a steel fire door. Resulted in getting six stitches. The doctor shot the area full of novacain or whatever, but I still felt the first and last stitches go in.

Local anaesthetics suck. When I was in my huge near death car wreck, one of my injuries was a shattered elbow. They didn't worry about the elbow for the first two weeks I was in ICU, they were just trying to make sure I kept sucking air into my collapsed lungs. Finally, a doctor noticed that my elbow was broken and since it appeared that I was going to live after all, they figured they'd better go ahead and set it. But they didn't want to give me general anaesthetic for what was going to be a very complex surgical procedure (the elbow was broken in 7 places or something). They figured my lungs would give out again if they did. So they assured me all would be well with just a local. HAH! I have never experienced such horrible pain in my life! They'd have done better to do like they did in the old Westerns and let me chug a bottle of Jack Daniels beforehand.:thepain3:

imagine what it would have been like without the local. or if you were under a general and your lung gave out again.

(stitches after childbirth - the worst part of the whole ordeal by far)

Thats 'cause LJ paid for a few extra stiches ;)

( Sorry , it had to be said )

I used to smoke a lot of pot, people tell I had a lot of fun. The 70s are a blur:bong:

Same here. I could drink an entire pot of coffee and sleep like a baby.

Novacaine = tap water for me. Lidocaine is a minor improvement. Fortunately, I don't get many cavities.

Thankfully, I've never been a big fan of opiates. I've had some severe injuries and despite the high from the meds, I could take 'em or leave 'em.

THC, however, is nirvanna. Can't use it for a variety of reasons which is fortunate because otherwise...

I do that regularly.

I actually know two people, personally, that are made drowsy by caffeine. One is an avid coffee drinker, so he has obviously built up a tolerance, but the other avoids it as much as he can. Yet, both of them crave a nap the more they consume.

That has to suck, the lack of effect. I like my coffee with a kick and a buzz on the cheap.